Tag Archives: 4a-wesco

Playoff Preview presented by theFinalScore.TV

Varsity Football Live reporter Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network joins Steve Dion to break down the WesCo playoff picture. Who are the top seeds in 3A & 4A and which teams are still fighting for a postseason berth? We’ll break it down for you!

Listen to our playoff preview of the WesCo League by clicking on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Be sure to visit SoundLiveSportsNetwork.com and follow Steve’s high school football coverage all season long including the ‘Prep Chatter’ podcast at www.theHawkeye.org!

A light slate of games to kick off week two of the high school football season took place Thursday included a WesCo clash featuring the visiting Oak Harbor Wildcats and host Kamiak Knights at Goddard Stadium. Both teams won in their season opener; which squad would push their record to 2-0?

Oak Harbor was off to the races early as they intercepted Kamiak on the first play of the game. This led to a 46-yard rumble to the pylon by Princeton Lollar Jr. who lived in the endzone all night long. Kamiak responded with a 5-yard strike from Matt Merk to Ben Barton.

However, the Wildcats powerful running game with Taeson Hardin and Lollar started to take its toll on the Knights defense and they started to take a control of the game. They led by three scores at the break.

As the second half wore on, the push up front by the staunch Oak Harbor offensive line helped the offense sustain drives and finish in the red zone. The Knights found the endzone twice more, but they could not surmount the massive lead accumulated by the Cats. Oak Harbor finished with over 600 yards on the ground and looks tough. The Wildcats 2-0 start may just be the tip of the iceberg for Coach Jay Turner’s bruisers from Whidbey Island.

A drizzly night at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell featured a 4A clash between Glacier Peak and host Bothell. This game had a college football feel in its heavy reliance on a passing attack leading to a high scoring affair that lasted well over three hours.

Glacier Peak struck first when Ayden Ziomas connected with Colton Bunt for a 65 yard score. Bothell quarterback Jacob Sirmon showed his tremendous arm strength on the following drive by launching a 58 yard bomb to Daniel Johnson off his back foot while taking a big hit from a Grizzlies linebacker at the point of release.

This set the tone for a back and forth affair leading to a 27-17 halftime score in favor of the home Cougars.

Bothell took a stranglehold on the game when Sirmon found Johnson again early in the third, this time for 75 yards. Peak scored shortly after on a Billy Lutali scamper up the gut, but the double digit deficit was too much to overcome.

Lake Stevens has emerged as a top 4A team in 2015 led by Georgia commit Jacob Eason as the Vikings will strive to improve on their elite 8 finish in 2014. Dick Fain catches up with head coach Tom Tri as he talks about his playmakers and expecatations this season.

To catch the complete radio interview with Lake Stevens Coach Tom Tri,simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

The 44th Annual Holiday High School Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off on Monday night at Bellevue College as eight teams vie for the title. The second of four games slated would match Monroe of 4A Wesco and 1A Emerald City league squad Bear Creek. The winner would advance to face King’s in the second round whereas the team that fell in this contest would take on Hazen in the consolation bracket.

Monroe wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as the opening tip was advanced up the floor and converted to an easy layup in the opening seconds. The Grizzlies were not fazed by the quick basket as they strung together some offense primarily through Jonny Magee and Jordan Block. The pair accounted for 19 of BC’s 22 first half points. Coach Tyson Horner’s Bearcats grew stronger as the first half rolled along, especially after freshman Colby Kyle threw down a dunk after a steal on the defensive end. This propelled Monroe to taking a 26-19 lead midway through the second quarter prompting Coach Tyler Mendezona to call a Grizzlies timeout after his team’s confidence started to wane. At the break, the Bearcats accumulated a double digit lead as the scoreboard read 33-22.

The third quarter began with a three-point spree as Monroe’s Rhen Shore and BC’s Block heated up from beyond the arc. However, trading buckets did not change the Bearcats lead heading into the final quarter. The Grizzlies needed a major run, but the call was not answered. There was a chance to cut the deficit to single digits midway through the fourth, but BC could not quite muster a late rally as the Bearcats locked up a 16 point victory.

Talk about the matchup of the year in this one. The Bothell Cougars, widely regarded as the top team in 4A all season long, facing off against the defending champions, the Chiawana Riverhawks. I had the unbelievable privilege to watch the Riverhawks in the state final last year, in the best comeback in Washington state football history. Down 13 points with 1 minute to play, the Riverhawks pulled off a miracle victory over the Camas Papermakers. I have never felt so much remorse for a losing team, a team that played perfectly all season and 47 minutes in the championship game, but couldn’t close the door on a team driven by a tenacious defensive line and a quarterback with a will to win.

But this is a new season, and a new team for the Riverhawks. And their competition is tested and ready for battle. The Cougars have looked unbeatable all year. Bothell quarterback Ross Conners is looking like one of the top QBs in the state, but the loss of star running back Sam McPherson may prove costly. Chiawana had the best defensive line in 4A last year, and returned three of those starters last season.

Look for another spectacular game and finish in this one. Chiawana has just one loss this season, to the Papermakers of Camas. Bothell is undefeated and deservedly so, they have outscored their opponents 597-133 on the year. Who will lift the trophy in Tacoma? Come join the action on Saturday night, December 6th, at 7:30pm.

Momentum is an intangible, yet powerful force in football that plays a major role in the outcome of the game. When one team grabs a lead and puts together several big plays, doubt creeps into the minds of the opposition. Newport was able to keep cool (in freezing conditions) in several moments of the game even when Lake Stevens appeared to be in good shape to pick up the win. After the opening kickoff of the game, it was clear that everyone in attendance was in for a show.

Brandon Otis wasted no time putting the Viks on the board as the junior took the opening kickoff 90 yards to the house for six quick points. Minutes later, LSHS added seven more on a 19 yard run by Andrew Grimes. Trailing by 14 with only 4 minutes elapsed, the Newport sideline was reeling. However, the Knights took a deep breath and proceeded to run in a 45 yard score in the hands of the quarterback Jordan Sanberg. They converted on the two-point conversion and sprouted new life. The high scoring first quarter would close out with touchdowns for each squad by Paul Wells and Hunter Eckstrom for NHS and LSHS respectively.

The Vikings grabbed hold of the game by capitalizing on back to back scoring drives on another Grimes rushing score and passing touchdown from Jacob Eason to Riley Krenz after Newport fumbling. Could the Knights overcome another double digit deficit trailing 33-15? The red and white rallied again by closing out the second half with another long quarterback keeper by Sanberg and a 12 yard dash to the plyon by Wells at the buzzer. Lake Stevens led by a slim margin at the half 33-28.

The running game was the name of the game for both sides with a slight edge in execution to Newport as their ability to mask the ball carrier and ability to create space with their offensive line from guys like Calvin Throckmorton kept the Viks on their heels. The Knights surprisingly picked up the lead early in the third as Nick Keithley ran 4 yards up the gut for a score. However, Grimes notched his third touchdown shortly thereafter with a 4 yarder of his own. Trailing 40-36 heading into the final quarter, could the Knights erase the deficit one last time?

Paul Wells answered the call again as an 18 yard run gave Newport a 43-40 lead. Jordan Sanberg would pick off Eason putting NHS in the driver’s seat to run down the clock. However, Lake Stevens recovered a fumble deep in Newport territory and were on the move. As the Viks were about to take the lead, a gang of Newport tacklers stripped the ball and needed a few first downs to kill the clock. They succeeded and came away with a shocking 43-30 win despite appearing dead in the water on several occasions. The Knights face Federal Way next week. FinalScore 43-40 Newport.

There has been a little movement this week with teams in the Top 10. Federal Way jumped a couple of spots to number 6. Here is our breakdown of the top teams in the 4A Classification.

1) Camas 9-0, 6-0 LeagueCoach Eagle has his eyes set on unfinished business from 2013. The Papermakers season will likely wrap up in the woodshed again, but can they raise the hardware?

2) Bothell 9-0, 6-0 LeagueThese Cougars has some serious firepower posting a 422-79 combined scoring tally in the regular season. The blue and white have the pieces to contend.

3) Chiawana 8-1, 7-0 LeagueDon’t sleep on the reigning champs. This team posted another solid season with the lone loss a non-league clash with fire-breathing Papermakers.

4) Gig Harbor 8-1, 6-0 LeagueThe Tides are playing like tsunamis right now as Coach Chantler’s gradual building of a program has a Narrows 4A title in the bank and a great deal of momentum heading into the playoffs.

5) Union 8-1, 5-1 LeagueA team that has shown the ability to rise up in nail biters can bode well in November when most games are settled in the waning minutes. The mighty, mighty Titans are not a team to take lightly.

6) Federal Way 7-2, 5-0 LeagueThe Eagles have been dominant since opening the season with a pair of losses. With a healthy linebacker unit and game-breaker Chico McClatcher, the sky is the limit.

7) Kentwood 8-1, 4-0 LeagueA staunch defense is the cornerstone of Conks football and the regular season did not disappoint as only 78 points have been surrendered in 9 games thus far.

8) Lake Stevens 8-1, 6-0 LeagueClawing out a victory over Kamiak may be just what the doctor ordered as the Viks prepare for the postseason. The more reps young Eason gets, the more dangerous Lake Stevens becomes.

9) Gonzaga Prep 8-1, 6-1 LeagueThe parity in the Greater Spokane league has given the Bullpups a well-balanced schedule in which there has not been any push-over weeks. A league championship may not be enough for Prep.

10) Graham-Kapowsin 8-1, 5-1 LeagueThe second of two SPSL Eagles in the top ten rankings finished second to Emerald Ridge in the league standings, but are a top ten talent in the state. Foster Sarell can wreak havoc moving forward.

On the Bubble:Wenatchee 8-1, 6-0 League
Emerald Ridge 7-2, 6-0 League
Kamiak 7-2, 6-1 League

On the day of tragedy, with all the news stations surrounding the Marysville community and Wesco Conference, two teams met to play for the Wesco regular season title, Lake Stevens and Kamiak. There was a 30 second moment of silence for the victims of the horrific incident that took place just hours before at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. These two teams, both 5-1, both lost to the same Marysville-Pilchuck High in out of league play.

It was a somber atmosphere to begin, but the action began right away. Lake Stevens struck first with a Jacob Eason pass to Tevin Gray to go up 7-0. But Kamiak responded with the next 21 points, one touchdown coming from a Tyler Becker pass, and another with his legs. With just 7 seconds remaining in the first half, Lake Stevens fought within a score with another Eason pass to Gray, cutting the Kamiak lead to 21-14.

This game completely shifted in the third quarter. The momentum seemed to be entirely with the Lake Stevens Vikings, and they only ran two offensive plays from scrimmage in the quarter. The Vikings scored on a punt return from Brandon Otis, and then on a two play, both Andrew Grimes runs, a 56 yard drive for another score, to bounce ahead 27-21.

Kamiak answered with a beautiful pass and catch from Becker to Nate Shubert, but Grimes was not done for the Vikings. Eason had to throw the ball one time in the second half, because Grimes took over. He scored on another run, this time 48 yards, to seal the win for the Vikings. Lake Stevens will now be the #1 team in 4A Wesco in the playoffs, with Kamiak secured as the #2 team.

Our team has scoured the entire state of Washington to see who might raise the trophy over their heads in December. As league play comes to an end and the playoffs quickly approach, here is our breakdown of the top teams in the 4A Classification.

1) Camas 7-0, 4-0 League
The 2013 state runner-up a season ago has wins over 3 of the top 10 in 4A (Camas, Federal Way, Union) earning the Papermakers the top spot.

2) Bothell 7-0, 5-0 League
Last week’s 56-0 dismantling of Skyline on the plateau was impressive. Bainter’s Cougs are firing on all cylinders as the playoffs approach.

3) Chiawana 6-1, 5-0 League
The defending state champs took down a tough Walla Walla team on the road last Friday. Falling to a hungry Camas squad by two points in week one is the only blemish on the schedule.

4) Union 6-1, 3-1 League
The Titans earned a road win against top-10 Federal Way in the season opener. Their only loss? Last Friday against Camas by the score of 37-20.

5) Gig Harbor 6-1, 4-0 League
Beating Olympia 45-14 is a clear indicator the Tides are steadily climbing up the 4A ranks. As the season unfolds, the win over Peninsula looks more impressive. Eastlake is the only loss on the record.

6) Gonzaga Prep 6-1, 4-1 League
The Bullpups shut-out Bellarmine Prep 17-0 early in the season and also have a nice win over Mt. Spokane. The lone blemish this season is a fluky loss against league opponent Shadle Park.

7) Kentwood 6-1, 3-0 League
The Conks are only allowing one touchdown per game this season. Yep, 7 points! The 35-14 win over Emerald Ridge was nice but a recent loss vs. Federal Way may be the only true test thus far.

8) Lake Stevens 6-1, 5-0 League
Since falling to Marysville-Pilchuck in week two, the Vikings have rolled out some blowout wins. Jacob Eason and the Viks square off against a tough Kamiak team on Friday.

9) Graham-Kapowsin 6-1, 3-1 League
Taking down the Spartans at Skyline HS on September 10th in front of a packed house shows the Eagles have grit to close out games. Losing to Emerald Ridge by a field goal is GK’s one trip-up this season.

10) Federal Way 5-2, 4-0 League
Meagher’s Eagles were slow out of the gates as they squandered a lead to #4 Union in week one and were blown out in week two by #1 Camas. Since then? 5-0 including a win over #6 Kentwood on the road.

Quantity does not always ensure quality, but when it comes to O’Dea football both are plentiful. The Irish field a roster the size of many colleges and talent is mixed in across the board. Tonight they would square off against the Marauders of Mariner High School who yield a much smaller team. O’Dea would be the clear favorites, but Mariner played tough despite a lopsided score.

The Marauders had a successful opening drive that brought them into Irish territory, but stalled from the swarming army of red and yellow. After punting the ball away, O’Dea got to work and asserted their dominance. Myles Gaskin broke free for a 16 yard score and the floodgates opened. Mariner was not able to respond and the Irish proceeded to put seal up a victory early. Gaskin wound up with three touchdowns for the game and 125 yards. Dylan Ledbetter had a strong defensive game, spending most of the night in the Mariner backfield. The Marauders battled throughout and punched in a touchdown in the fourth quarter. O’Dea picks up a 35-7 win.

The top of 4A Wesco faced the top of 3A Wesco in this battle between the Lake Stevens Vikings and the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks. Both teams wanted to prove that they were the top of the conference, no matter the classification.

When these two teams face off, the offensive skill position players take center stage. For Marysville-Pilchuck, look no further than their running backs Killian Page, JJ Valencia, and WSU commit Austin Joyner. For the Vikings, Jacob Eason steals the show.

Eason, a Georgia commit as a junior, threw for 2941 yards last year and 23 touchdowns. The Vikings thrive on his legs and incredible arm, and at 6’5 215 he can sling the ball all over the field.

Joyner put a stamp on this contest early for the Tomahawks. He scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the Tomahawks an early 14-0 lead. His 100 yards on the ground in the first half led all rushers.

But Eason responded in the second and third quarter for the Vikings. He led three touchdown drives to tie the game late in the third at 21.

But Joyner was not done. He ran for two more scores in the fourth, and Page added another for the Tomahawks, to win 40-28.